The price of a Bill of Rights
From: Fortnight April 2000
This is an exciting time for all those interested in human rights protection.
It could however turn into a depressing one if commitments are dishonoured.
The Bill of Rights exercise presents a unique opportunity to create a legal
instrument which people can be proud of because they have played a part
in its construction and because it is innovative. If the exercise is seen
to have popular backing then it will be more difficult for the British government
to reject what emerges from it. It will also demonstrate that the Belfast
Agreement has not been forgotten by the people who voted for it and that
not everyone has decided to walk away from it. |
